Gold futures end lower as U.S. equities rise

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures fell for a second straight session on Tuesday, with strength in U.S. equities following a rise in consumer confidence drawing investors' attention away from the precious metal. February gold
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shed $12.60, or 1%, to settle at $1,250.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices saw a bout of profit taking by nervous traders ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy announcement on Wednesday, said Mark O'Byrne, executive director at GoldCore, adding that the "return of risk appetite as seen in the bounce in stock markets" was also likely pressuring gold prices Tuesday.

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